With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup concluded, we explore the key revelations stemming from the weekend's action.
Gallic supremacy has been the narrative in the past few campaigns, with the previous five victors all calling home France's elite division. Yet, the first weekend featured a number of convincing performances from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Seem Ready to Defend Their Title
Current holders Bordeaux Begles were a class apart in this tournament last season, dismantling Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the showpiece.
Lying sixth in the French league, doubts have been raised about their ability to repeat the feat this year. Yet, in round one, Bordeaux issued a reminder that they are more than capable of securing consecutive championships with a points-laden triumph on foreign soil in South Africa.
Given a tough assignment at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side boasting stars like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
Yet, true to their champion status, they showed their quality in the final 40 minutes, fighting back to secure a 46-33 victory – holding the Bulls without a point after the interval.
France international phenoms Damian Penaud and global award contender Louis Bielle-Biarrey each crossed the try-line. Any side with that pair on the edges is a threat against any opponent.
Powerful Bath Seem Poised of Challenging for the Title
Bath's only triumph in Europe came almost 30 years ago. Since that time, they have perhaps not been better equipped to secure another title.
The current English champions are top of the pile at home after six games and will be aiming to transfer that success into the Champions Cup – especially after a surprise group-stage exit the previous season.
Johann van Graan's men looked a very complete and polished team in their 40-14 victory against Munster, who are among the leaders in the Celtic league.
They blend offensive flair – sealing the try-scoring point inside 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, holding their opponents at arm's length when they looked like mounting a dramatic comeback.
With the likes of Finn Russell and Ben Spencer in the half-backs and strength in depth throughout the team, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's key result in the initial phase the previous year came in the following week, an heartbreaking 22-21 setback at Benetton with a changed side.
Now with a Premiership title under their belt and setting the pace in England once more, Van Graan may feel able to concentrate more effort on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains quality outfits in every pool, but Pool One looks set to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is said about victories on your own turf, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes but came back strongly, and two tries during the beginning of the second period gave them a all-important maximum haul.
In doing so, they handed their prospects of qualification a major lift and, by contrast, inflicted a hefty blow to Sale.
With Toulouse – commanding 56-19 victors over the Sharks – and Saracens, who brushed aside Clermont, also in the pool, we should be in for many thrilling contests.
And what of Glasgow's old rivals Edinburgh? They delivered one of their top continental showings in recent memory to stun heavyweights Toulon 33-20, on a excellent weekend for rugby in Scotland.
Could Ioane the Missing Ingredient of the Leinster Quest?
When considering a contender you would expect to be challenging at the later stages of the Champions Cup, it would be four-time winners Leinster.
But in the last few years it hasn't gone to plan, as they have shown great potential but delivered little. Finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked heavy favourites a year ago after following up a 62-0 rout of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 demolition over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was thought that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to win the championship, but they were caught out and suffered a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This year they are bringing in another Kiwi, this time with Rieko Ioane, who claimed a try assist on his first appearance in Saturday's 45-28 victory against Harlequins.
Could Ioane be the player to return the cup to Ireland for the first time since 2018?
Stormers Look Prepared to Challenge
Since the South African sides joined the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the best performance by any of them is the quarter-finals, and the previous season no South African side was able to progress out of the group stage, with plenty of squads not at full strength fielded.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and started their continental journey with a 26-17 victory on the road at Bayonne on Friday.
The post-match comments were promising too, with players and coaches speaking of their goals, and the caliber of South African internationals Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse unavailable for the round-one win.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a team from South Africa to progress far in the event, but do not rule out the Sharks and Bulls, who were defeated in the opening round but did play formidable opponents respectively.
Saints and Pau Deliver a Memorable Match
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and that clash was a leading candidate.
Pau have been enjoying a outstanding campaign, led by Pumas Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and ex-England half-back Dan Robson.
They are right now in second place in the French championship and the atmosphere was electric at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
